ADHD coaching or medication, why not both?
ADHD coaching combined with medication is considered among the best courses of treatment for ADHD symptoms
Although ADHD is commonly thought to be a behavioural problem which only manifests itself in school age children, the condition affects both children and adults. It can cause difficulty with focus, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Treatment options for ADHD include medication, behavioural therapy, specialist coaching, and lifestyle changes. One of the most common treatments for ADHD is medication, but like any medication, it comes with side effects that should be taken into consideration.
The most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD are stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall. These medications work by increasing dopamine levels in the brain to improve focus and concentration. However, they can also have side effects such as decreased appetite, trouble sleeping or insomnia, increased anxiety or agitation, elevated blood pressure or heart rate, and even have the potential for addiction. Because of the possibilities of addiction, and the use of stimulants as recreational drugs, ADHD stimulant medications are categorised as class B drugs, and their prescription is closely monitored. Selling them, giving them away, or simply owning them if you don’t have a prescription is against the law, and can incur fines, or even a prison sentence.
However, despite the known side effects and legal ramifications for misuse, prescribed medication under the care of a physician shouldn’t be dangerous. If you do experience side effects you should speak to your doctor immediately and they will adjust or withdraw the treatment and try you on a different programme instead.
Best of Both
The gold standard of ADHD treatment however takes on board both medication and coaching. Medication can be either stimulant or non-stimulant while the coaching teaches you how to manage and strategize ways around your symptoms.
Since ADHD is incurable, only treatable, management skills are important as they can alleviate the need for drugs as they become less effective after prolonged use, and the dosage needs to be adjusted accordingly. Lower doses less frequently naturally means that anyone using them will be less prone to any dangerous side effects or risks of dependency.
Non-stimulant medications are another option for treating ADHD. Possibly because of the paradoxical situation where stimulants are taken to calm people experiencing hyperactivity, non-stimulants are rarely discussed and far less known about. They work in the same way as stimulants insomuch as they drive up production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine, however, instead of creating a burst of brain chemicals for immediate effect, they do it slowly so you may not see any improvement in your ADHD symptoms right away. It usually takes a week for patients to be able to see quantifiable improvements in activity, attention, mood and focus.
If Medication Simply Isn’t For You
If you decide medication isn’t for you, you still have alternatives. ADHD coaching and CBT can help you, even if you decide that you don’t wish to, or are unable to take drugs.
By taking up coaching you’ll be introduced to a number of different management skills which will help you when you recognise your triggers and need to be at your best. Your coach will not only help you with the well known symptoms such as lacking focus, task paralysis, procrastination and hyperactivity, but also the less well recognised symptoms such as stress and anxiety, depression, insomnia, rejection sensitivity dysphoria and self-medication/substance use.
Coaches usually offer a choice of private one-to-one coaching and group coaching sessions and each has its own merits. While one-to-one coaching is more expensive, you get to have alone time with your coach where you can receive their full attention while you discuss privately the skills you are going to learn. Group coaching is less expensive, but you don’t receive the undivided attention of your coach. The benefit here is that you are in a group of your peers who are all going through what you are and they will have mastered skills of their own which they can share or warn against depending on their experience of coping with ADHD.
Getting Help With Work
People with ADHD in the UK, who are in paid work for more than one hour a week, can get a grant called Access to Work. It’s not a loan so it doesn’t have to be repaid and it doesn’t affect most other disability benefits if you’re capable of work. Access to Work can be used to pay for things which fall outside of the reasonable adjustments your employer is required to make, and can be used for things like coaching, so the price doesn’t need to be a barrier to getting the help you need to do your job better.
In fact, if it helps you do your job better, your employer may want to pay for your coaching themselves as it teaches many brilliant skills which you could pass on to your neurotypical colleagues because coping and management skills which work for people with ADHD are going to be incredibly useful to other people too.
However, ADHD coaching isn’t a work skills programme, it can help in all areas of your life as becoming better able to manage your ADHD means that you’re better able to cope with challenging situations which would normally trigger you. Handling that means better interactions with your family, friends, colleagues etc. Managing your ADHD will make you happier, less stressed and less prone to anxiety, all mood factors which have a proven and demonstrable impact on life quality and even life expectancy.